Crime

Messmer High teacher hit with new charge she groped male student

A Messmer High School teacher has been charged with a second count of second-degree sexual assault of a child, according to an amended complaint filed Friday by the Milwaukee Country district attorney's office.

The teacher facing child sexual assault allegations, Megan Garland, 28, made her first brief appearance in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Friday. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled June 10, according to a Milwaukee County Intake Court clerk.

According to the amended complaint, Garland is accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old male student who was in her science class.

The boy was associated with a 14-year-old male student on whom Garland has been accused of performing oral sex inside a car in the parking lot of Destiny Church and School on N. 76th St.

Garland began picking up both boys and taking them to school last fall, and she would drop them off at the side entrance of Messmer High School to avoid anyone seeing them together, the complaint alleges.

On May 17, the student involved in the latest charge against Garland asked her for a ride home, during which she allegedly put her hand inside his pants and groped him, according to the complaint, which details other allegations of inappropriate behavior.

If convicted, Garland faces a maximum fine of up to $100,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 40 years on each charge.

Garland was to be transferred Friday from the Milwaukee Police Department to the Milwaukee County Jail.

She was suspended last week by Messmer when the initial allegations were reported.

"Everyone at Messmer Catholic Schools was saddened and outraged to hear of additional allegations in the current investigation being conducted by the Milwaukee Police Department," Mike Bartels of Messmer said.

"Such conduct, if proven true, is unacceptable at Messmer Catholic Schools and we take any such allegations very seriously. We continue to cooperate fully with the Milwaukee Police Department in this ongoing investigation."